In 1976, KONG established "the standard" for dog toy performance and durability. Today, KONG Toy are enthusiastically used and recommended by veterinarians, trainers, dog professionals and satisfied customers worldwide. Millions and millions of dogs have confirmed that KONG is "the world's best dog toy!"

The story of KONG begins with a German Shepherd named Fritz, his owner, and a van. Fritz, a former police dog, enjoyed chewing rocks. This activity wore Fritz's teeth down and frustrated his owner, Joe Markham. One afternoon while working on his van, Joe noticed Fritz dining on rocks once again. Out of desperation, he began disassembling the van he was working on and threw parts near Fritz to see if he could be coaxed away from his destructive dinner. Radiator hoses didn't work, and neither did anything else until he pulled off a suspension part and gave it right to Fritz. Right away, Fritz was ecstatic. The KONG was born!

While Fritz invented KONG, it was Markham who realized the potential of his odd-looking toy. Markham refined the toy's design, developed a super-strong rubber formula, and began production in 1976. Today, Markham continues to sell this toy, as well as other great products, all over the world.